New organization established to promote human rights in local communities

The All Japan Federation of Buraku Liberation Movements (Zenkairen) has been dissolved to put an end to the 82-year long movement since the founding of the National Leveler's Society (Suihei-sha) calling for the end of discrimination against "buraku", historically segregated communities in which residents were forced into inhumane living conditions and extreme poverty.

Zenkairen was reorganized into a new national organization tackling human rights movements in localities.

In its 34th convention held on April 3, Zenkairen decided to dissolve itself, succeeded by the National Assembly of Regional Human-rights Movements (Jinken-ren) which held an inaugural convention on April 4.

The government's special measures law on discriminated hamlets and related school curriculums expired in 2002.

Zenkairen Chair Ishioka Katsumi said that Zenkairen has campaigned against the reckless concession-hunting and violence the "Buraku Liberation League (Kaido) used to achieve their chauvinistic objectives.

"Calling for democracy and national harmony, Zenkairen has thus contributed toward resolving Japan's centuries-old discrimination issue," Ishioka said.

He also warned that Kaido is still infringing on citizens' rights in the name of "human rights protection" which requires people to take countermeasures. Jinken-ren must work for eliminating anti-human rights actions while fighting against Kaido's reckless campaign, he stressed.

Jinken-ren in its inaugural convention elected Ishioka chair, and Arai Naoki secretary general. Ishii Ikuko, Japanese Communist Party vice chair, attended the convention and gave a speech.

Zenkairen was established in 1976, succeeding to the "organization for normalizing Kaido" which was founded in 1970. (end)